Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series 2012 GT champion AIM Autosport will be back twice as strong in 2013.
After winning the GT title in its first season with the brand-new Ferrari 458 Italia Grand Am, AIM will be adding a second car to its arsenal for 2013.
“At AIM Autosport, after our successful season in 2012, winning the championship, it looks like we’re going to be able to expand our program next year,” team principal Ian Willis told Grand-Am.com. “We have been here testing at Daytona with two cars.”
AIM drivers Jeff Segal and Emil Assentato were on track in the championship-winning No. 69 Ferrari 458, and also in the No. 61 car, which is actually a factory test car operated by Michelotto, which manages Ferrari’s sports car racing efforts.
AIM has been chosen to work with Michelotto to develop the 458 platform for the Rolex Series. This benefits any team which enters Ferraris in the series in the future, and also benefits AIM, which gets much more testing and development data.
AIM finished 18th overall and eighth in class in the 2012 Rolex 24 at Daytona. This twice-around-the-clock endurance classic is the biggest race of the season, and AIM would like the prestige of a class win.
“Really looking forward to growing AIM Autosport to two cars, attacking the championship even stronger than we did last year,” said driver Jeff Segal. “With one car we had good success. Hopefully with two bullets in the gun we have a little bit more of a chance to bring home a big win at the 24-Hour next year.”
Ian Willis said that the team would announce its driver lien-up and other details on Nov. 26.
The 51st Rolex 24 at Daytona starts at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, 2013. Check Grand-Am.com for ticket information.
